On arriving in Strathy, Berrigan won the toss and sent the Bulldogs in to bat.
From the first ball the Saints had the Bulldogs on the back foot with Mathew Ross (0/7) and Harley Middleton (3/17) bowling a niggling line to the Bulldogs batsmen.
Mick Laidlaw fell early for five, caught off Middleton, and then the introduction of Fraser Haintz into the attack saw the Strathy batting line-up collaspe in quick succession.
Haintz (5/7) was the chief destroyer, claiming Dan Cleary caught and bowled for seven, Billy Westerveld caught for two and Tyler Stephens bowled for seven.
Middleton then struck again claiming Harry Ryan, caught for two.
Haintz then trapped Indi De Zoysa LBW for a golden duck and picked up Luke Collyer for a duck, and the Bulldogs were in all sorts at 7/27.
Some late resistance from Jake Atkins and Jai Stephens saw the score get to 36 before Stephens was caught off Haintz for one.
New batsmen Mitch O’Brian was then bowled by Zach Nugent for a duck.
Strathmerton were all out for 38 with Atkin not out on eight.
In reply the Saints openers Nugent and Rory Knight set about getting the runs quickly, taking to both Collyer (1/19) and Atkin (1/11).
With the score on 17, Knight was caught behind for four off Collyer.
Nugent followed five runs later for 18, caught behind off Atkin.
The Saints were 2/23 after eight overs.
Tim Cooper and Brad Loats used the time to get some bat on ball with the two passing the score and the Saints finishing 2/40.
Loats was not out for nine and Cooper not out on eight.
Fraser Haintz picked up the Tim Harris Transport Award for his five wick haul.
Next week the Saints travel to Katamatite.
•••
Congratulations to Berrigan’s B-grade back-to-back premiership winning team on their nomination for a Berrigan Shire Council Australia Day Award.
While the club did not come home with the award, being nominated was an honour.
Results from the awards day are on page 4 of today’s edition.
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